So men have started to wear pantyhose now.They’re called Mantyhose, and there’s even a whole website, e-mancipate, dedicated to them. There might be people who find this odd, but when you come to think of it, there’s nothing particularly feminine about pantyhose, is there? They’re just tights made of a diaphanous material. And men have been wearing them for centuries too, especially in Europe, like medieval court jesters, Henry VII and even Robin Hood.

While several men in the UK and other parts of Europe have already started wearing the garment, the trend is now catching up in the US. Most men prefer to wear them as an extra layer under pants, but the more courageous tend to pair them up with shorts too. Who can deny the benefits of sporting tights? After all they do provide that smooth look to the legs, hiding any bumps and scars. They’re pretty comfortable too. Chan Kramer, the founder of e-mancipate, writes, “We believe that pantyhose for men can be an everyday clothing item, and that it can be fashionable as well.” And Francesco Cavallini, the vice-president of luxe hosiery company Emilio Cavallini, agrees, “The mantyhose are extremely elastic and stretchable and can fit men comfortably at the top. If it’s fine for Italian guys, it’s fine for the world.”

Pantyhose for men are being sold by other companies too, under different names. Spanx, the company that sells body-shaping undergarment solutions, have a line for men called Manx that helps hide those layers of belly fat from being seen through a shirt. According to e-mancipate, men have great legs too, and they can look fine if covered in mantyhose made of the right colors and material. They also go on to claim that these garments can have health benefits, saying that men who wear them can enjoy higher energy levels, refreshed muscles and greater athletic performance. The website provides a list of companies that make and sell mantyhose to choose from. So girls, now you know exactly what to get your man for his next birthday…